Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry - Thanjavur- Trichy - Madurai – Thekkady (Periyar) - Kumarakom – Cochin
DAY 01
ARRIVE CHENNAIArrive in India's bustling city of Chennai and let the experience begin! A traditional Indian welcome marks the start of your magnificent journey before escorted to your hotel. It is one of the four major metropolitan cities in India. Today, it is hard to believe that a place that was till 1639 just a small fishing village would become such an enormous and beautiful city
After lunch proceed for sightseeing tour of Chennai covering 13 km long Marina Beach, Visit the museum to see the bronze gallery with its superb collection of Chola art. Drive through the flower and fruit market, past the High Court built in Indo- Saracenic style, the Fort Museum with its collection of colonial memorabilia and Marina Beach. Fort St George Mueseum is the name of the first English fortress in India, founded in 1644 at the coastal city of Madras, the modern city of Chennai. The Government Museum or Madras Museum is a museum of human history and culture located in the neighbourhood of Egmore in Chennai, India. Started in 1851, it is the second oldest museum in India after the Indian Museum in Kolkata. San Thome Basilica is a Roman Catholic minor basilica in Santhome, in the city of Chennai, India. It was built in the 16th century by Portuguese explorers, over the tomb of St Thomas, an apostle of Jesus. Thousand Lights Mosque, a multi-domed mosque in Anna Salai in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, is one of the largest mosques in the country and is a revered place of worship for Shia It was built by Nawab Umdat-ul- Umrah in 1810.
DAY - 02
CHENNAI – PONDICHERRY (SURFACE: 175 KMS / 04 HRS) VIA MAHABALIPURAM
Today morning after breakfast you will proceed to Pondicherry,enroute visit Mahabalipuram – It is famous for being a sculptor’s delight. There are 14 cave temples, nine monolithic rathas, three stone temples and four relief sculptured rock panels. Built in the Dravidian style in the 7 th and 8 th century, most of them are dedicated to Vishnu or Shiva. Sights include the Shore temple (A world Heritage site) - The Shore Temple is so named because it overlooks the shore of the Bay of Bengal. It is a structural temple, built with blocks of granite, dating from the 8th century AD, Panch Rathas or Five Rathas – It is a set of magnificent monolithic rock temples. These temples are located in a sandy compound. These five Rathas are the perfect examples of the evolution of Dravidian style architecture. The Rathas have an association to the great epic Mahabharata which describes the heroes of Mahabharata with their wife Draupadi which is termed as pancha pandava rathas, Varaha Cave Temple (also Adivaraha Cave Temple) is a rock-cut cave temple located at Mamallapuram - is one of the finest testimonial to the ancient Vishwakarma Sthapathis , of rock-cur cave architecture, out of many such caves also called mandapas & Tiger Cave - It gets its name from the carvings of tiger heads on the mouth of a cave which forms a part of the complex Upon arrival at Pondicherry transfer to hotel for check in & Overnight stay.
DAY - 03
PONDICHERRY – THANJAVUR/ TANJORE (SURFACE: 175 KMS / 04 HRS)
Morning after breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour, visit the world-famous Aurobindo Ashram - abode of the twentieth century saint and philosopher Sri Aurobindo which forms the nucleus of many activities and trade in Pondichery. Also visit Auroville town an oasis of peace and enlightenment designed by the French architect Mr. Roger Anger. You will find this town living up to the designer’s mission of making people realize that the merits of human unity. Continue your visit to the Pondicherry museum, which has sculptures, archaeological finds, and memorabilia of the French colonists. See the Sacred Heart Church with its Gothic architecture and stained-glass windows. After lunch depart for Thanjavur, en-route visit Nataraj temple at Chidambaram, “Gangaikonda Cholapuram” (famous Shiva temple) with its beautiful high towers full with many small sculptures depicting stories of old epics. City was founded by Rajendra Chola to commemorate his victory over the Pala Dynasty. The name means the town of the chola who brought Ganga (water from Ganga) or who defeated (the kings near) Ganga. Transfer to Hotel for check in & overnight stay.
DAY – 04
THANJAVUR/ TANJORE – TIRUCHIRAPPALLI (60 KMS 02 HRS)
In the morning after breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour ofTanjore, visiting the 11th century Sri Brahadeeswara temple, built mainly of granite blocks and decorated with sculptures and frescoes. It is topped by a monolithic dome constructed from a single 80 tonne piece of granite, which was dragged to the top using a 6 km long ramp, in a technique similar to that used by the Egyptians to build the Pyramids. Also visit the Royal Palace & Tanjore Art Gallery. Post sightseeing tour; continue your drive to Trichy/ Tiruchirapalli, visit the famous Rock Fort perched on 84 m high rock. Ucchi Pillayar is a 7th-century Hindu temple; one dedicated to Lord Ganesh located a top of Rockfort . Thiruvanaikaval or Jambukeswarar Temple is a famous Shiva temple in Tiruchirapalli. The temple was built by Kocengannan one of the Early Cholas, around 1,800 years ago. Overnight stay in Tiruchirappalli.
DAY - 05
TURUCHIAPALLI TO MADURAI (131 KMS - 03 HRS)
Post breakfast drive to Madurai, upon arrival check-in at your hotel. In the afternoon proceed to local SS of Maurai, visit Koodal Azhagar Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in the center of the city of Madurai , Tamil Nadu , India . Koodal is another name for Madurai and Azhaghar means the beautiful one, in Tamil . The temple is an ancient one and very close to the famous Meenakshi Amman Temple . It is one of the 108 divyadesams the holy abodes of Vishnu. Tirupparankunram Murugan Temple, one of the Six Abodes of Murugan , the temple at Tirupparankunram offers a mystic beauty. It is carved in rock and is monstrous in size for such architecture. According to legend it is where Murugan married Deivayanai , the divine daughter of the king of heaven, Indra , and he is said to have worshipped Shiva here as Parangirinathar. Gandhi Memorial Museum established in 1959, is a memorial museum for Gandhi located in the city of Madurai. Known as Gandhi Museum, it is now one of the five Gandhi Sanghralayas in the country. In the Evening proceed to Meenakshi Amman Temple is a historic Hindu temple located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River in the temple city of Madurai . It is dedicated to Parvati known as Meenakshi and her consort, Shiva , here named Sundareswarar. you will be enjoy a rickshaw ride also have an opportunity to witness the special religious night ceremony at the Meenakshi Temple. Overnight stay at the hotel
DAY - 06
MADURAI TO THEKKADY / PERIYAR (SURFACE: 160 KMS / 04 HRS)
Morning after breakfast proceed for Thekkady, it is the location of the Periyar National Park , which is an important tourist attraction in the Kerala . Upon arrival in Thekkady check in hotel. In evening enjoy Kalaripayattu Art Show – It is the oldest of martial arts-is a gift to the modern world and known as the mother of all martial arts. legend traces the 3000-year old art form to sage Parasurama-the master of all martial art forms and credited to be the re-claimer of Kerala from the arabian sea. Kalaripayattu originated in ancient south India. Kung-fu, popularized by the monks of the shaoline temple traces its ancestry to Bodhi Dharma-an Indian Buddhist monk and Kalaripayattu master. Overnight stay at the hotel
DAY- 07
THEKKADY/ PERIYAR - KUMARAKOM (SURFACE: 125 KMS / 3 HRS)
Periyar is South India’s most popular wildlife sanctuary, encompassing an area of 777 sq. km. Set on the attractive man- made Periyar Lake; it attracts over 300,000 visitors a year. Though the sanctuary was made a part of Project Tiger in 1973, it is better known for its elephants. The Periyar Tiger Reserve and National Park, established in 1934 as the Nelliampatty Sanctuary, the park was enlarged in 1950 and is India's southernmost tiger reserve. The lake covers some 10 sq. miles and most of the sanctuary is undulating. Enjoy early morning game viewing by boat on Periyar Lake. The motor launch drifts along the lake presenting close views of elephants, deer, bison and even leopards and tigers. Spice plantation & Aruvikkuzhi waterfalls. Later in the afternoon drive to Kumarakom, upon arrival check in at hotel. Day a Leisure, sign up for Ayurveda spa/massage (on direct payment). Overnight stay at the hotel in Kumarakom
DAY -08
BOARD HOUSEBOAT AT KUMARAKOM - ALLEPPY (BY FLOATING HOUSEBOAT)
Enjoy full day at leisure & free for independent activities.Overnight stay at Houseboat.
DAY – 09
DE- BOARD HOUSEBOAT AT ALLEPPEY & DRIVE TO COCHIN (BY SURFACE: 55 KMS /1.5 HRS)
Post breakfast; De-board houseboat at Alleppey & visit Alleppey city, later drive to Kochi (colonial name Cochin) is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the breath takingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as 'God's Own Country'. Its strategic importance over the centuries is underlined by the sobriquet Queen of the Arabian Sea. Informally, Cochin is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala. Upon arrival check in at hotel. Evening free for shopping or Personal activities. Overnight stay at the hotel
DAY -10
IN CHOCHIN
After breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of Cochin visiting the The Mattancherry Palace is a portuguese palace popularly known as the Dutch Palace- depicting Hindu temple art, portraits and exhibits of the Rajas of Kochi, it has some of India’s most beautiful murals. Hill Palace Museum, which displays Royal memorabilia, paintings, carvings and arms and the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets. See St. Francis Church where Vasco da Gama was originally buried, and the Santa Cruz Church with its pastel coloured interior and carved wooden panels. Jewish Synagogue – It is the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nation , located in the quarter of Old Cochin known as Jew Town and is the only one of the seven synagogues in the area still in use. The complex has four buildings . It was built adjacent to the Mattancherry Palace temple . In the evening enjoy a presentation of the colorful costumed Kathakali dance show by various artists at the theater. Kathakali literally meaning "story dance" is the pantomimic dance drama, the dancing and the acting being blended together into an inseparable form. It is a combination of facial expressions and body movements, which brings out the thought and emotion of the character. Proceed for check in at Hotel & overnight stay.
DAY – 11
DEPARTURE FROM COCHIN AIRPORT – BY FLIGHT
Morning after breakfast you will pursue independent activities and later you will be to the Cochin Airport for your flight back to home. END OF THE TOUR & OUR SERVICES WITH SWEET MEMORIES